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Users want to shop anywhere and at any time. Merchants, in turn, want to see the money they have earned reach their account as quickly as possible. The fact that a transaction can now be completed in under ten seconds has become the new standard in the eurozone – at least in recent months, since the obligation to provide instant payment services across the European Union came into force in October 2025.
The new standard has brought not only speed, but also the rule that the new service must not cost more than a traditional payment, and that every provider must ensure verification of the payee. Payee verification marks an important step forward for the industry in preventing financial fraud, which exceeded a value of EUR 4 billion in 2024. It also turned out that verification was a major test for the industry and for partner data hygiene across more than 3,000 banks, fintechs, and payment service providers in the eurozone.
Instant payments and security are no longer premium features, but basic expectations in the financial world. Which raises the question – what comes next for payments and the customer experience in both business and private use? We briefly discussed this with two experts, while a deeper analysis will be available on the stages of the region’s largest fintech conference. The fourth edition of Money Motion, supported by leading industry brands including Mastercard, Monri, ASEE, Croatia osiguranje, and A1 Hrvatska, will take place on 11 and 12 March at Zagreb Fair, and tickets are available via the official conference website and the Entrio platform.
Greater control and flexibility over your own funds
„The integration of instant payments represented a major technological and infrastructure undertaking for the banking sector. The European market is moving rapidly towards greater digital connectivity, efficiency, and service availability, where speed, transparency, and security are becoming the standard rather than an advantage“, says Damir Šljivar, Director of Digital Banking at Erste Bank.
According to him, the biggest beneficiaries are users – both individuals and companies – who gain greater control over their own funds, more flexibility, and more secure financial services.
Instant and secure is no longer premium – it is the baseline. The next step leads toward the integration of artificial intelligence into payment processes.
„Built on the foundation of real-time payments, agentic commerce is emerging – a market logic in which payment decisions are increasingly being taken over by intelligent digital agents. According to McKinsey projections, by as early as 2030 these agents will manage transactions worth between USD 3 and 5 trillion annually“, explains Damir Čaušević, President of the Management Board of Monri Payments and co-founder of Money Motion.
Domestic and international experts will speak on the main Money Motion stages about realistic expectations, stages of development, and prototypes already being tested.
Money Motion 2026: where ideas, capital, and technology meet
The fourth edition of the Money Motion conference, supported by partners including Mastercard, Monri, ASEE, Croatia osiguranje, A1 Hrvatska, Nexi, OTP banka, Erste Bank, and many others, will take place on 11 and 12 March at Zagreb Fair.
The Money Motion conference brings together 3,000 participants each year, along with more than 700 companies. During the two-day program across five stages, nearly 150 experts will share their knowledge and experience on the future of one of today’s most dynamic industries.
This year’s Money Motion program is growing in parallel with the conference’s own ambitions, both in the breadth of its topics and the depth of its insights. One of the standout additions is the AI & Automation Stage, which will premiere as a dedicated platform for artificial intelligence and automation, technology that is changing the industry from within at unstoppable speed.
In this context, the program will be further enriched by the participation of key leaders whose expertise goes beyond sector and national boundaries. Reinhard Höll, Chief Transformation and IT Officer at NLB, brings a perspective from the heart of major digital transformations in European banking, grounded in years of consulting experience at McKinsey and a deep understanding of financial strategy. On the other hand, Hendrik Bourgeois from Mastercard, who leads public policy and government relations for Europe, will shed light on the industry’s position at a time when regulation, geopolitics, and technology increasingly meet at the same table. And when it comes to the future of digital money, Nilixa Devlukia is another essential voice – a visionary already recognized in the circles of the European Central Bank, the UK’s FCA, and a range of key institutions shaping tomorrow’s monetary system.
For the full list of Money Motion 2026 speakers, more information about the program and key attendee benefits, and tickets at the current price of EUR 289, visit the official website at www.money-motion.eu.
Startup competition with a record prize fund
One of the conference’s most attractive segments is the Money Motion Startup competition, which this year brings prizes worth more than EUR 60,000, with AI-based solutions also eligible to apply.
Out of hundreds of applications, the ten best teams will enter the final and pitch on the Startup Stage, while the top three teams will share a cash fund of EUR 10,000 along with valuable partner awards – from exhibition space at the next edition of the conference to credits on platforms such as AWS and Infobip.
Previous winners have since become serious global players, such as Spain’s Devengo, which, after winning in Zagreb, became a fintech pioneer in its home market.
Located right next to the main conference entrance and the central Money Motion exhibition zone is the newly designed Startup Pavilion, an exhibition area dedicated exclusively to those pushing the boundaries of modern technology. From previous competition winners and the latest challengers to globally relevant investors and distributors, this zone is a new springboard for young and ambitious teams looking to compete worldwide.
Exhibition spots in the startup zone are limited and priced to suit teams that are only just beginning their journey.
